Well superstructure



1942- P. A. WOLFF WELL SUPERSTRUCTURE Filed Nov. 14, 1940 A 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3mm mMJIMff m w. 4

Nov. 3, 1942.

P. A. WOLFF WELL SUPERSTRUCTURE Filed NOV. 14, 1940 2 Shee ts-Shaet 2 glwwc/wtom PaulA. 1/6212 dwe l/"M30 Patented Nov. 3, 1942 wan. sursas'rnuc'ruas Paul A. Wolff, Tulsa, Okla, asslgnor to Well Surveys, Incorporated, Tulsa, Okla, a corporation of Delaware Application November 14, 1940, Serial No. 305,123"

3 Claims.

This invention relates generally to improvements in oil-well superstructures and especially 1 is concerned with a new and improved frame for supporting a measuring wheel for use in paying out cable into a well.

In accordance with present practice of well logging methods, it is customary to lower a logging machine by means of a cable into a well bore.

' Inasmuch as the cable is not permanently to restruction of a new structure for each well.

main within the well, it has been the usual practice to construct a more or less temporary superstructure directly above the well-bore opening to serve as a supporting means for a suitable measuring drum or wheel. This practice has been both wasteful and expensive, requiring the con- It is an object of this invention to provide a novel portable well superstructure adapted for use in supporting a measuring wheel over'a wellbore opening which can be easily and conveniently moved from place to place and used successively without requiring specific adaptation to each well with which the device is used.

A further object of the invention is to provide a superstructure which serves to distribute the force components of relatively major magnitude resulting from the weight of the long length of cable, with substantial uniformity over the relatively large area in the vicinity of the well bore opening. This factor is of major, importance because faulty distribution of load can result in failure of the supporting means during use whereby a sudden jerk in the cable with consequent breaking of the same might result.

An important advantage of the novel structure according to this invention over other types of well superstructures now in use is its extreme rigidity, strength and economy of component members resulting from careful consideration, in the invention of the device, of the resolution of force components toresult in unifornf distribution of the load factors.

A feature of the device according to this invention which is important from the standpoint of manufacture of the device is that the same may be readily constructed from metallic tubing and, by joining the elements by welding or similar means, a structure of extreme rigidity and strength can be economically fabricated.

Other objects, advantages and features of the novel well superstructure according to this invention will be apparent to those skilled in this art during the course of the following description.

Regarded in certain of its broader aspects the novel well superstructure according to this invention comprises a base member upon which are mounted a plurality of upwardly converging standards carrying aligned axially spaced shaft receiving members, the supporting standards being interrelated in a manner such that an important portion of the forces acting therein is in each instance dissipated in corresponding forces exerting tension on the elements of the base.

To facilitate a better understanding of the matter of the present invention, a specific embodiment thereof herein illustrated will be hereinafter described, but it is clearly to be understood that this embodiment is provided by way of example of the practice of the invention and not by way of limitation thereof. 1

- Referring then to the drawings which accompanywand form part of this specification:

Figure 1 is substantially a front elevational view of the presently preferred embodiment of this invention; 0,

Figure 2 is essentially a side elevational view of the same;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the structure; and

Figure 4 is substantially a vertical sectional view of the preferred type of measuring wheel for use in conjunction with the supporting frame;

Referring now particularly to Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, it is to be observed that the shaft-supporting frame according to the present invention comprises a trapezoidal base member generally designated by the reference character 20, having a pair. of converging sides 2| and 22 connected at their ends to two parallel sides 23 and 24. It is to be noted that the side 24 is much shorter than the opposite parallel side 23. Inasmuch as the sides 23 and 24 are parallel it will be obvious that the elements of the trapezoidal frame are arranged in co-planar relation,

Upwardly diverging standards 25 and 26 of substantially equal Iength are mounted at the ends of the shorter parallel side 24, extending in a plane inclined toward the opposite parallel side 23 substantially as illustrated. Axially spaced aligned shaft-receiving members, generally designated by the reference characters 21 and 28, are mounted upon the standards 25 and 26 respectively. It is to be observed that the shaft-receiving members 21 and 28 comprise base-plates 29 and 30 upon which are mounted pillow blocks 3| and 32 carrying rigidly mounted annular bearing members 33 and 34 respectively.

It is to be understood that the hereinabove described elements are rigidly interconnected by appropriate means such as welding or the like.

An inverted V-shaped element 35, mounted at its free ends on the ends of the longer parallel side 23 extends in a plane including the side 23 and the axis of the shaft-receiving members 21 and 28 substantially as shown. Converging struts 36 and 3! connecting the shaft-receiving members 21 and 28 and the apex of the element 35 serve further to strengthen the structure as will be apparent to those skilled in this art. Braces 38 and 39 connecting the shaft-receiving members 21 and 28 and the ends of the longer parallel 'side 23 are provided further to distribute the load carried by the device and to impart rigidity to the assembly.

Referring now to Figure 4 wherein details of the measuring wheel best are illustrated, it will be observed that the wheel, generally designated by the reference character 40, comprises a pair of bushings 4| and 42 having radially extending flanged end portions la and 420 respectively, upon which are mounted discs 43 and 44 attached to the bushings by suitable fastening means a and a respectively. Tubular spacers I! are provided for rigidly holding the discs 43 and N in predetermined relationship. Other peripheral parts of the discs 43 and 44 are received in cutaway formations in an annulus 46, being attached thereto by fastening means 41 substantially as illustrated, whereby a rigid wheel -assembly is provided. The annulus 46 is peripherally grooved as indicated by the reference engaging with the eyes mounted on the corners of the base.

Having thus described the matter of the present invention, what it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

- 1. A shaft-supporting frame comprising a base member having two converging sides and two parallel sides; upwardly diverging standards of equal length extending from the ends of one of 1 the parallel sides, defining a plane inclined toward the opposite side; axially spaced, aligned shaft-receiving members, one on the free end of each of said standards; and struts connecting the shaft-receiving members with other parts of the base whereby forces acting in the struts and parallel sides; upwardly diverging standards of equal length extending from the ends of one of theparallel sides defining a plane inclined toward the opposite parallel side; axially spaced, aligned shaft-receiving members, one on the free end of each of said standards; and struts connecting said members and the sides of the base whereby forces acting in the standards and struts are dissipated in tension forces acting in the sides of the base.

3. A shaft-supporting frame comprising a trapezoidal base member having two converging sides and two parallel sides, one of the parallel sides being much shorter than the other; upwardly diverging standards of equal length excharacter a, to receive a cable of the type used 5 tending from the ends of the shorter of the parin well 108811 8. It is to be understood that the groove is formed in a shape such as to minimize side frictional engagement with a cable received therein.

In use, the wheel is mounted upon a shaft II, positioned within the shaft-receiving members 21 and 28 substantially as shown inFigure' 1, the shaft beingconnected with appropriate counting means such as a. "Selsyn" motor connected to a recorder, whereby the length of cable pmngoverthewheelcanbeescertained. The

allel sides, defining a plane inclined toward the opposite parallel side; axially spaced aligned shaft-receiving members, one on the free end of each of said standards; an inverted V-shaped 4 element, mounted at itsfree ends on the ends of the longer-parallel side, extending in a plane including the axis of the shaft-receiving members; converging struts. connecting said members and the apex of said element; and braces connecting 45 the shaft-receiving members and the ends of the longer parallelside. assemblmwhenpofltionedoverthetop oia-wellbore, is held in place preferably by my PAUL A. wom n. 

